Monday, 22 September 2014

Hummell wall - Gullane beach (near Edinburgh)

I've climbed another few problems on the mini-cliff wall of Hummell Rocks, at Gullane beach, near Edinburgh (East Lothian).

Don't use any hard/wire brushes pretty please!

1. Prow, 4. Can be topped out but descent is harder than the ascent.

2. Prow eliminate, 6b. Any holds on the left side of the round prow is out. Sit start at obvious twin side pulls and move up on crimps till the top.

3. Tangology, 7a. Sit start on two big flatties. Make an awkward step leftward to small edges. Settle using a vague thumb catch side sloper, before launching to juggy holds above. Finish more easily but high or jump off.

4. Rise of the caveman, 6a+. Eliminate - no bridging allowed on the right or left. Sit-start at the mini-cave on good flatties. Rock onto a left foothold to reach a higher flat ledge. Reach high and leftward to a good wide edge. Finish at the line of jugs above.

4. High and dry, 6a. Easier for the tall. From the sandy hole or the small edge, launch up to reach a hidden jug. Move up and rightwards to good holds. Jump off or finish up (not recommended on your own).

Monday, 15 September 2014

Hummell wall - Gullane beach (near Edinburgh)

I've climbed a few problems on the mini-cliff wall passed Hummell rocks, at Gullane beach, near Edinburgh (East Lothian). The ones below are the least sandy, but you will still need a gentle brush to clean off the holds (especially after kids' sand battles).Don't use any hard/wire brushes pretty please!

1. Crimpy arête, 6a. Stand start on a two fingers pocket hole and climb the vague arête on crimps. escape and descent leftward on the slab.

2. Hummeliation, 6b. Step up from the finger tips pockety crack at head height and slap to crimps. Then up and finish as previous.2 bis. Humiliation, 7a. As previous but start hanging both hands on the finger tips pockety crack.

3. Slab and wall, 5+. Step onto the slab then traverse left onto the wall and finish as previous.

4. Mini-Roof, 6a+. SS under the mini-roof, rock over the lip and finish up as high as you wish. Nice problem with a perfect landing (no mat required!!!).

There's a small alley at the back of the wall, which looks nice. Unfortunately, all the lines are easy and the place gets interesting only once you start eliminating:

Wednesday, 13 August 2014

Agassiz Rock Top-outs

The following problems can all top out. Descent can be done leftwards, via the small path at the top of the crag. Take care!

1. Rock over, 6a

Sit-start on pockets (heel hook right) to crimps above. Then rock over using a flat pinch, then top out.

2. Hula’s hop, 6a

Sit-start on small but positive pocket edges to the big jugs above. Sort feet and reach for a crimp right hand and a hidden sharp side pull left end. Hop up onto the big ledge to the left and top out as the Rock over.

3. Step up, 4+

Sit-start as for Hula’s hop. A flat square edge above the line of big jugs leads to a hidden but good hold to the right of the bulge. Using it, step up onto the line of jugs and finish easily rightwards and up.

4. The Lock reloaded, 7a

A reload of the old "Lock" problem (see Stone Country press’ Bouldering in Scotland 2008 guidebook, page 60) after the "wobbly jug finger-lock" fell off.

Sit-start at the base of the overhang and gain the heavily chalked up polished rail. From this rail, grab the undercut flat edge under the roof, sort feet out and lunge up for the sloper above. Match this sloper and lunge up again to a good jug (dynamic move) at the top of the overhang. Top out leftward on bigger holds (high).

5. Low Traverse, 7b

As per Stone Country guide to Bouldering in Scotland's description (2008, page 60).

Thursday, 26 June 2014

Bouldering near Edinburgh, Wester Craiglockhart Hill

1. The Pinch, 6c+

From any hold to the right of the 'Shark' arete, deadpoint (or dyno) to a white sloper below the top and finish on the sharp jaws of the 'Shark'.

2. The Pinch SS, 7b.

Eliminate. Sit start at a broken brown vertical rib to the right of 'Shark' (harder for the tall). Any good hold on the left side corner/arete is out. Pull on small edges to gain a LH sloper and RH square pinch hold - or any other small edge and finish as for the pinch.

3. Hung Parliament, 6a+

Sit start under the bulge. Pull hard on crimps and sloper to reach the only good jugs of the wall. A technical sequence leads to hidden holds at the high break. Finish traversing left and down on ‘Shark’.

4. Hung Parliament direct 6a

As previous but finish straight up at the break on good holds.

5. The niche, 6b.

Sit start at good but sharp crimp, slot or undercut into the small niche and reach for the flat diagonal side pull/pinch. From there, traverse left and finish as for ‘Hung Parliament’.

6. The niche direct, P

Eliminate. Sit Start as previous but straight up on crimps to the high break of ‘Hung Parliament direct’. The LH jugs and RH scoopish sloper by the ivy are out.

Monday, 19 May 2014

Agassiz Rock and Salisbury Crags

Dynamic panoramic view of Agassiz Rock

According to Robert Craig, a self-proclaimed “native Scot with the inside knowledge that entails”, “the best-known bouldering area near Edinburgh is Aberdour”.

Craig goes as far as claiming that “Salisbury Crags aren't good quality climbing”.

Given the advice is available on a website called “Allexperts dot com”, one is tempted to take it for granted.

Dear Edinburgh visitor, who's joining the crowds of the "Homecoming Scotland 2014", don’t be fooled. Judging by his assessment of rock quality, that expert is probably a hill walker who thinks that bouldering is another way to reach the top of a mountain.

The best outdoor bouldering in Edinburgh is at Salisbury Crags and Agassiz Rock

Salisbury Crags - The South Quarry

Salisbury Crags are the best venue in Edinburgh in terms of both rock quality and setting.

And by its overhanging nature and its profusion of holds, Agassiz Rock, near Blackford quarry, provides the best naturel training venue for bouldering in Edinburgh.

But if you think that soloing 10 meters high HVS routes above spiky rocks - or at best above very shallow waters – is the definition of good bouldering, then yes, Aberdour is probably a bouldering venue.

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Bouldering in Galicia - Finisterre trailer (Mens segment)

"Far-off from Europe’s mainstream bouldering hotspots lies one of the continent’s most overlooked climbing regions.Galicia, in the northwest of Spain, has many things to offer. Spectacular boulder fields litter the storm-tossed coast and the undulating hinterlands.But it’s the locals that make this lovely spot of land so special. People like Ben de Corme or Finuco Martinez, who contributed to establish one of the most interesting bouldering areas, sparkle with motivation and hospitality.Follow the three Austrians, David, Niko and Stefan, on a journey to the world’s end, where they find out, what bouldering in Galicia is all about".